Healthy Growing Project

Nearly a third of British adults grow their own food, with many believing it to be healthier, a study suggests. This project aims to encourage young people to grow their own food, namely fruit and veg, in a way that promotes healthy eating and a more natural diet.

Our idea is to get youth more enthusiastic about growing fruit and veg. This project will be giving young people an insight into what goes into the fruit and vegetables that are typically purchased at supermarkets every day. In addition, this project will encourage young people to get outside and enjoy nature and fresh air instead of being indoors or glued to mobile devices.

The project will be run as a series of workshops and seminars delivered by volunteers trained in gardening and nutrition. To give a more practical view we will invite local allotment owners as guest speakers to talk about their experiences with growing food. The workshops will be geared to help young people to develop an appreciation of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Another aspect of this project is the setting up of local youth farmers market. We will help those who want to take the project to the next level to create a one page business plan to outline how they can take these produce to local farmers markets to raise money to support a charity of their choice. There will also be a session where the young people visit a local allotment to get hands on experience during the project by taking part in some outdoor gardening.

The main topics to be covered include:

The benefits of growing your own veg

Guide to growing own veg

Simple and tasty recipes

Nutrition and positive eating habits

How to access or rent an allotment – Information from Bromley Allotment and Leisure Gardens Federation

Youth Farmers Market business plan